A large number of employees at both WWE and UFC are expected to lose their jobs as a result of the merger, but whether or not any of the big names from the ring who are still under contract will be let go remains to be seen.
The merger between WWE and TKO has begun to have an impact on the company, which is the most talked-about topic in pro wrestling in recent times. Prior to hiring, some names from various sources are surfacing as potential candidates for budget cuts.
WWE releases multiple superstars following UFC merger
On Thursday afternoon, WWE published some names of the released pro wrestlers that have been verified by sources like Fightful.com. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that WWE let go of various wrestlers following the UFC merger, including Dolph Ziggler, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Rick Boogs, Emma, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Aliyah, Shanky, Mustafa Ali, and many more.
A number of NXT stars, including Quincy Elliott, Dabba-Kato, Yulisa Leon, and Bryson Montana, were let go recently, among more than a hundred people who have reportedly lost their jobs after the merger. WWE has released several artists who previously found success but faced challenges in recent years.
Ziggler’s release, a wrestler with many championships, including a Money in the Bank ladder match victory, has been particularly disheartening. Ziggler briefly held the NXT Championship last year but returned to the main roster and was underutilized. The 43-year-old free agent may garner interest from the Alliance of Extreme Wrestling (AEW), where his brother, Ryan Nemeth, is employed.
WWE’s mass release of talent upsets wrestling fans
As a result of the merger talent reduction, fans will no longer get to see their favorite wrestlers in the ring. Some of the names that may have been future Hall of Fame inductees have already left the business, and fans seem to be desperately hoping that their favorite performer doesn’t meet the same fate, which is a sad sign.
The fact that the list has been made public is hardly the end of the world, but it does worry supporters. One hundred workers’ layoffs are already expected, and that’s only the beginning of the formal plan. There is growing concern among the audience that other fan-favorite figures may also be released.
More ring talent is planning to leave the organization, and the formal layoff procedure is still in the works. As several releases have already occurred; which of them makes you feel the saddest? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
